Anyway, I usually use this bag at school for my books, laptop, etc., I love the navy color, and one of the reasons I loved C Wonder so much is they had gold "C"s on just about everything. So it was already monogrammed for me, and anyone else whose name starts with C!

This bag is no longer available, but this one from Longchamp is quite similar, unfortunately about double the price of what this bag was though :/

I usually wear obviously, a swimsuit on the beach. I got this J. Crew bikini top

and bottom (along another set) for some great deals recently! I like to wear cheaper sunglasses like this pair from Loft, so I don't worry about them getting in the sand or potentially lost in the water like I would with an expensive pair.

I wear my hair up and with a hat like this one from Vineyard Vines mot of the time I'm on the beach. And Jack Rogers jelly sandals are my favorite for beach and pool, I don't like to get my regular Navajo sandalswet or in the sand, but these are great for that (I also have them in pink and green!). This style of jelly Navajos are no longer available but the jelly Gerogicas are available in several colors. I also really like to wear spirit jerseys as cover ups. This one is from my school bookstore, but Spirit Football Jersey has tons of them!

I also of course bring a beach towel and lots of sunscreen. I take acne medication that makes my skin more sensitive to the sun, so I love the highest SPF I can find. I know, apparently there's no difference above 35 or something, but I guess the higher number makes me feel better. I worked at a water park the summer before I started college and never got burnt because I always used this Neutrogena SPF 70+ spray, and face sunscreen.

So I trust those products, and I also like this Supergoop face sunscreen that is more for everyday use, for other vacation events not on the sand, it has a lower SPF number of 30. Also since I started taking my acne medication my skin gets really dry after I spend a lot of time in the sun. So, I like lotions that are simple and natural like this one I got in my Birchbox awhile ago. And since I don't spend much time in the sun at home, I use Jergen's Natural Glow to get a little color before I go!

Anyone else spending some time at the beach for the last few weeks of summer?

Grilled romaine is a game changer. Get on board now!! If not for me, do it for your tastebuds. Slice a romaine heart in half and brush a little olive oil and season with salt ‘n pepa. Place the romaine cut-side down on a hot grill for about 2-3 minutes, pressing down gently with a spatula.

If you make this grilled Caesar salad for a crowd or your family, swap out plates for parchment paper and drizzle on Caesar dressing. If you’re feeling extra sassy, reach for your favorite hot sauce and GO TO TOWN.

With freshman year of college on the horizon, I’m repeatedly warned about the dreaded Freshman 15. Confused? It’s a nickname for the supposed weight gain many freshman girls experience. With so many unhealthy food options at the dining halls and bad decisions like late night pizza orders, I’d imagine it can definitely be hard to stay on track. Although preventing the onslaught of the Freshman 15 has to do a lot with self-control and motivation to go to the gym (please someone – send me daily reminders that I need to go work out!), there is hope in the form of Nourish Snacks, an awesome new concept by Joy Bauer.

Let me back up: I’m a huge fan of snacking. Ask anyone who knows me IRL and they can tell you that if snacking was a competitive sport, I would be a champion (cheesy but true). In between meals, I often need something to tide me over – and although I’d love to say I’m the type of person who naturally reaches for an apple or a peach, I’m just not. As a result, I know I’ll be needing some sweet and salty picks in my dorm at all times.

There’s obviously going to be a lot of snack options on campus, but I have a feeling that they won’t be particularly healthy. Thus, Nourish Snacks is going to be a constant in my dorm so I can eat something that is simultaneously delicious and healthy.

Besides the amazing taste, I also particularly love the way the snacks are packaged. Each bag is under 200 calories so you don’t have to feel guilty about eating the whole thing – this is seriously portion control at it’s absolute best! I could see myself throwing one of these in my bag at the beginning of the day and snacking on it as I hop from classes to different events. 200 calories or less for the whole entire day is a great way to stay a smart snacker. The snacks vary in exact amounts, but all have a decent amount of fiber and protein which is such an added bonus.

Nourish Snacks also has a bunch of Snack Collections on their website – and you could have it shipped straight to your dorm! Not only is this good for you (hello healthy and delicious food!) but it could also get you some new friends in the process. As the saying goes…

So order a pack and try it out with your hall-mates, etc. – if they like it too (which I guarantee they will!) you can all better motivate each other to stay on track in the snacking realm. In this aspect, Nourish Snacks is like a lifestyle path that makes so much sense.

SHOP NOURISH:As I said, the Nourish Website has tons of different collections. Starbucks does sell Nourish now which is a very accessible way to pick up the product, but for college students that have difficulty with spending, ordering in bulk will save you a ton of money. Here are my favorite collection options:

College Collection // Designed with a college student in mind – how perfect?! Great for anyone who needs grab and go food (in addition to all the reasons above!).

Energize Collection // This particular collection is filled with the Nourish Snacks that specialize in a decent portion of protein – so great and necessary as a college student.

Crunch Collection // I’m a sweet and salty kinda gal, but I know some like to forego the sweet and dive deep into the salt – so this collection is perfect for those people!

Sampler Collection // Still not completely sold? This collection provides 20 different packs so you can try out a whole slew of Nourish Snacks – see what you like, and then go back and order more!

Collections are $36 for 20 packs ($1.80 a pack!) or $84.95 for 50 packs ($1.70 a pack!).

I’ve been slowly but surely trying all the different flavors and let me tell you, they are all amazing. My favorites are Miss Popular, Ps & BBQs, and Coco’nilla Crunch – I can’t get enough!

Still on my list to try are…. Nutty ‘Nanas, King Korn, Almond Aloha, Menage-a-mix, Honey Bee Good, Cinn-sational, Hot & Popular, Sweet & Salty Kapow, Cocoa Loco, Chili’n in the Corn’r, and Cowboy Crunch. Perhaps a tasting video is in order for when I can track down these different flavors? What do you think?

*snacks courtesy of Nourish Snacks, although I have purchased my own in the past. I am a loyal fan of this brand and do not advertise anything on The Fashion Newcomer that I do not fully back and believe in. Thank you for supporting the brands that help sustain and further The Fashion Newcomer!

I have to admit, finding a pretty place to take outfit pictures in Paris is quite easy. Around every corner is another historic and beautiful building. I could wander around the city and snap a picture on every corner. I'm in love with Parisian architecture and dream about living behind one of the picturesque brightly colored doors one day.

I ordered this dress a while ago and unfortunately it didn't arrive until after I had left for my big summer abroad. Luckily, my mom visited me last week and was able to bring it with her! It was a perfect summer dress to stroll around Paris in. It's cream colored lace adds a touch of elegance but it's light weight material makes it a little more causal (It's also on sale right now!!). Luckily my work isn't too formal so I was able to wear this dress one day to work too!

It's the perfect summer dress and it definitely has the ability to become a little dressier with the right jewelry and shoes. I opted for a more causal look with flats, my everyday jewelry, and a fun Kate Spade clutch!

Happy Wednesday! You know what that means- we’ve made it halfway through the week! It also means WorkIt Wednesday is back. I’m going to be honest, I have notbeen working it lately. I’ve just been super tired and not feeling like going to the gym, and I haven’t been eating very well. But, it’s time to get back on track! I’ve fallen off the wagon quite a few times in my day, and I’ve found that the easiest way to get back on is to start at the beginning (breakfast) and work up from there. I usually just eat Greek yogurt for breakfast, but sometimes that gets boring, and I get REALLY hungry/hangry at around 10 am, leading me to break into my lunch at the first acceptable moment (11 am), which means I’m starving again by 5, and come home and eat everything I see. Which is obviously incongruent to my goals. After seeing these on Pinterest, I decided to make my own version of a protein-packed breakfast bowl. I’ve made a few different varieties, and have devised a simple 3-step formula for the perfect bowl.

1. Base-start with a single-serving cup of your favorite flavor of yogurt. I usually use coconut Chobani, but they were out, so I settled for plain. Sometimes I will mix a tablespoon of peanut butter in with the yogurt to add a little extra protein and flavor!

2. Make it sweet- For me, this is a drizzle of honey, but you could use agave nectar, stevia, or just leave it plain if you’re using a flavored yogurt.

3. Add the extras-I usually add 1/4 cup of quinoa and some type of fruit, but you could add nuts, granola, or even chocolate chips to make it interesting!

How easy is that? 1,2,3, breakfast! Here are a few of my favorite combos:

-Coconut Chobani mixed with peanut butter, quinoa, a drizzle of honey, and a handful of raspberries

-Peach yogurt, quinoa, a drizzle of honey, and a sprinkling of toasted almonds and granola

If you come up with a new combo, let me know- I would love to try it! This is an easy way to have a healthy breakfast to help you power through your day, and it’s completely flexible to accommodate your tastes.

I meant to make this post weeks ago, but I thought it would be fun to share some summer internship outfit ideas. I had an internship last fall at an art museum by my school, and I had to dress up a little more. This summer, I'm interning at my old dance studio in their offices, and there isn't really any set dress code. So the first three outfits are something I would wear for a more dressed up office, and the second three outfits are more like what I have been wearing this summer!

If you follow along on instagram you might have seen this scallop black dress I posted last night because I was too excited to wait until today to share. Between the scallops and midriff cut-out detailing, this little black dress will be making quite a few appearances here on out (bachlorette party perhaps). It is a more fitted, figure-huging style, perfect for a date night or out on the town with your girlfriends.

Speaking of heading out on the town, on Friday night a few of us checked out a new spot on the East River called The Crow’s Nest. If you are visiting New York City add it to your list of places to stop by and grab a drink. The bar is located on the upper deck ofThe Water Club, overlooking the Brooklyn skyline. Between the spiked watermelon lemonade and oldies tunes (I’m talking Jackson 5) playing form the speakers, we instantly felt like we escaped the city and were on vacation. I am excited to take my parents here when they visit next month!

After working the hospital prom on Saturday (complete success, yet now I am battling an awful cold), I decided to lay low on Sunday, relaxing and enjoying the beautiful weather. I hope you all had a wonderful weekend and here is to getting through this next week!

Recently I've been inspired to really revamp by beauty routine. Growing up, there wasn't much of a routine at all. I spent many years of my youth in a swimming pool, and typically wore very little makeup to school. I rinsed my face with water at night, and washed with soap when I showered. At the time, I thought I was doing a pretty good job of taking care of my skin.

Once my pool days were over, things didn't get any better. In college, I went from wearing very little makeup to wearing more than I probably should. I removed the makeup with a simple wipe, and usually only washed my face in the shower. Fail! There were many times that I would go to sleep with my makeup on. Double fail! All the while, still not realizing how terrible I was treating my skin.

Now, three years post college, I have finally realized that the years of neglect will soon catch up with me. So I'm doing MAJOR damage control... and I mean, major! So because of that, I've completely switched up my beauty routine in order to have a healthier, fresher face!

To help make up for lost time, I started really cleansing my face and moisturizing. While soap and water can do the trick, I've started using a cleansing system to help really scrub my face. Sometimes your own hands or a rag won't get the job done properly.

So I started using the Spin for Perfect Skin system. It's awesome y'all! It comes with four exchangeable attachments. One you can use daily as a cleanser for your face and another that works when exfoliating. The system also comes with two other attachments; one for a full body scrub and another that works for your feet and heels.

I like this system best for two reasons. One, it comes in purple (my favorite color) and two, it actually works. I've used the brand name machines, but they just don't seem to work well. Probably because they're cheap. Or if they do work, they only last for a month or two. The Spin for Perfect Skin system is durable and really great quality. While it may be more expensive then the major name brand systems, it's well worth the investment over time.

After a few days using this machine, my skin felt a million times better. And after just ONE use, I immediately felt and noticed a difference. My skin simply felt clean. For my face, I used soap and water, and the cleansing head to really scrub my face.

After the wash, I used Jergens Natural Glow tented moisturizing face cream. I use this cream at night so I'll wake up with a nice tan! And then I use Neutrogena's moisturizing face cream in the mornings after I shower. Both work well together, and really are helping to tackle the years of damage I did to my skin.

Speaking of damage... two of my favorite "fixer products" are Aquaphor and m-61 Hydraboost for eyes. I use Aquaphor for any scrapes or bad spots on my face. Think of it like the Neosporin for your face. And the Hydraboost is really great for tackling those dark eye circles.

To help even more, I changed the foundation I was using. Instead of the heavy, caked-on mess, I switched about a year ago to the CoverGirl Outlast 3-in-1 Foundation. While I've recently been contemplating a foundation switch, this CoverGirl option has done wonders to help my skin. It's not as heavy and feels very light on my face. With that though, it doesn't give the best coverage as far as hiding blemishes, etc. So I'd suggest a concealer as well.

By making these initial changes, I'm already well on my way to improving the quality of my skin and face. I know by staying consistent, my skin will be extremely healthy. I also highly recommend the Spin for Perfect Skin!! Do you use something similar? If not, get one for yourself. All Primp & Proper readers can snag one for 70% off!! Use code KRSPIN at checkout. So instead of the $100 price tag, you can get a Spin for Perfect Skin system for less than $30!!! How awesome is that?! You too can have healthy, glowing skin!!

SUMMERTIME SCENTS

summer is here! as the weather warms up, our weekends are spent outdoors brunching on patios, playing tennis, seeing concerts on the lawn, and soaking up beach time a few hours away from home. with all this time outside and vacationing, we do spend less time at home. but when we are home, I love lighting fresh, fruity, tropical, summery candles to bring that summer feeling inside.

I first became obsessed with watermelon candles from the lyrics in the blake shelton song doin' what she likes. he talks about lighting watermelon candles upstairs, and I knew I needed to pick up a watermelon candle pronto. it just sounded so refreshing and summery, I found one at bath and body works and fell in love.

The Monogrammed Life

Welcome to The Monogrammed Life, a fashion and lifestyle blog owned by Marleylilly - Monogrammed Gifts! Thanks for stopping by! We hope you'll stick around and find some inspiration here. Peace, love, and monograms!